[karenjayne]

Becoming single and want a safe city to relocate to no more than 15-20 minutes from east coast. Need small home 60k or under (but realize that is a fixer upper). Am a 3D artist so being within an hour of some art scene would be good. Any recommendations?

[RMD3819]

You posted this in the Fort Myers forum which is the west coast.

You might want to post in an east coast or the general Florida forum.

[elston]

I don't really consider that I live on the west coast....which I consider to be the pacific ocean.....a continent away....but I don't think you are going to find anything in this part of Florida that is within your very limited price range and in a safe area. I don't know where to recommend you look. The Atlantic seaboard isn't at all cheap......but also the water isn't freezing until you get up in Northern New England......Maine....where the Gulf Stream doesn't moderate the ocean temp.

I don't think there is anything along the coast for around $60 k.; probably not for $160k If that were really my goal....I would look at the area between Mt Pleasant and Myrtle Beach SC and a ways inland. Then Charleston would be the hub of an artistic community.

I wish you good luck.....but think this will be a hard dream to fulfill.

[FloridaCT]

Fort Myers In zip code 33916, near 3225 E river drive, there might be condos which may meet your requirement, just go realtor.com and type in the address and search"

[kyle19125]

You might consider Pensacola which has a decent arts community and easy Gulf beach access, along with a sizable inventory of homes in your price range.

[SeaLark7]

It also depends on what you mean by "freezing water". If you mean the ocean temperature, right now (November 30) the water at the beach is around 76 degrees here in Vero Beach, which is considered too cold for swimming by many (especially native Floridians!). We are on the east coast, in south-central Florida. My friend who has lived in Florida most of her life won't swim in the ocean between November and April. Snowbirds tend to be more tolerant of colder water temperatures.

[thatguydownsouth]

Jacksonville has a low cost of living and certainly has 60k houses within 30 minutes to the beach. Also have a growing artist market with the Riverside Arts festival. Water here is cold for natives during the winter. But certainly warmer than up north.